Our friends at Seymour Johnson AFB NC are buckling in for one heck of a ride. I remember being there when Floyd came in to town (Goldsboro). The runway was 10 feet under water for 10 days.
~ I will never forget the story Bullet told me about his return flight from taking the jets to safety. He was on final approach and said they saw what looked like white rocks all around certain areas of the town which he never saw before. Goldsboro's other industry is pig farming. They were dead pigs that drowned during the flooding.

I hope all of our posters that may be hit remember one thing...the wind is not the big issue, it is the rain and flooding that follows after the storm leaves and the sun starts to shine. Rivers will take days to crest. Plus tree root systems will be weakened, especially pine trees since their root system is shallow and start to fall.

Be safe, do not assume anything, especially when you are driving.

Best thoughts, hopes and wishes for all of you in the path of Florence.

Son said he watched all the helicopters fly out of Ft. Bragg yesterday, said it was quite a sight to see. They now have relief supply trailers lined up on runway.

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LMAO. As a spouse that was left behind when they took the aircraft to safety, it was never a sight I saw. Granted it is amazing to watch, but because as Bullet was taking the jet to safety I was too busy placing our patio furniture in the garage. Making sure my propane tank for the grill was full. Filling up the car with gas. Filling up the freezer with water jugs. Vacuuming, doing dishes and laundry in anticipation of no electricity for days. Getting cash from the bank. And most importantly, buying WINE so I could deal with 3 kids that did not what to do without their Xbox/Play station.

Not joking. He left, I kissed him goodbye and went on my way of checking off the check list before we got hit. He had his job to do...getting the jets out of town. My job was to keep our family safe while he was gone.

Now to be honest, my fondest memories were riding out the hurricanes. We, as wives would buckle down together at one of our homes.
~~ Favorite memory our DS (ADAF now) was 9 and my BFF decided to stay at my house with her kids. We knew the electricity would go out, so we let them stay up until they dropped. Her, another friend and myself were talking the night away. 3 A.M. the boys come screaming downstairs...MOM, MOM the TV isn't working! UM, boys you do see it is dark in the house and we are living by candle light? Yeah, but the TV isn't working...up and over their craniums that the electricity was gone, they were watching a movie in the dark, so they just thought that the DVD player and TV broke.

BGen Alford is taking heat for not ordering a mandatory evacuation of Camp Lejeune. In his statement he noted a long history of the base surviving storms and stated, "we're going to stand and fight." He and I deployed to Africa in 1996 when he was a captain company commander in 3/8 and I was the SPMAGTF senior HM and only Independent Duty Corpsman. Camp Lejeune had a run of several hurricanes in the middle 90s, one of which happened while Alford and I were deployed. Our families made it just fine without us.

My nephew (closer to a 3rd son than a nephew ) texted from Camp Lejeune. He is single and an MP so he said it didn't matter whether the base evacuated or not since he would stay behind. He said they had cots lined up against the walls, MREs and water, and he was preparing to "chill like a really big slumber party." Considering we are all from a flyover state he may find that Florence offers more excitement than he had anticipated.

I read that article today about Alford getting heat, too. What struck me was the sheer quantity of enlisted personnel posting on social media about how their leadership was stupid and "putting them and their families at risk to save money" when Alford had already said it wasn't because of the money. In my day, talking smack about your C.O. wasn't tolerated. I don't know if he's right or wrong to hole up there and ride it out, but what I do know is that morale seems to be a problem, and there needs to be some serious correction handed out to some folks.

I read that article today about Alford getting heat, too. What struck me was the sheer quantity of enlisted personnel posting on social media about how their leadership was stupid and "putting them and their families at risk to save money" when Alford had already said it wasn't because of the money. In my day, talking smack about your C.O. wasn't tolerated. I don't know if he's right or wrong to hole up there and ride it out, but what I do know is that morale seems to be a problem, and there needs to be some serious correction handed out to some folks.

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People can evacuate, it just isn't mandatory. I don't know what they are complaining about. Social media has made it easier to whine. Alford is not one to be messed with in person so complaining from afar is for sure in their best interest. Things have definitely changed. A few days ago my son's battalion commander held a town hall for spouses. One of the complaints was from a wife stating that my son was training his company and thus her husband too hard. Fortunately for the Marine, the CO didn't tell him who the complainant was.

That's what (ostensibly) has them all lathered up. If BGen Alford made the evacuation mandatory, then the Government reimburses folks for their costs of temporarily relocating during the storm and aftermath. If it's voluntary, the cost is on them. If you're trying to live on an enlisted salary, then that's probably quite a burden.

So if that's the case, I can see why they might be upset about it, but that's still no excuse to post on social media like that. I would deal with that sort of thing swiftly and with conviction. I guess the fact that they grouse about their "command" in general, rather than come right out and mention any officers by name, sort of skirts Article 89 - but man - that's thin.

Ft. Bragg gave most soldiers today and Friday off due to the storm. Some live in areas prone to flooding and will probably spend the next few days elsewhere, those not in flood areas should weather things ok for the most part. It's true that those that choose to evacuate will not be reimbursed as they would if the evacuation was mandatory, they will however still be paid their salary unlike many thousands that have been under a mandatory evacuation from the coastal areas that had to shut down businesses or take time away from a job that won't be paying them while they are away. Still I agree that evacuations can be a burden for many people.

This type of "complaining about command" has always been around, it's just what used to be complaining over a beer at the local bar is now out in the open and more frequent because of social media. What always surprises me is that they complain of Facebook, it's not like nobody knows who they are.

I remember when DD sent us a picture of 1/2 inch of snow when they shut down Paris Island when she was Company Commander. We all had had a good laugh. We at times learn how to drive in all weather conditions. Good Luck to all who stayed.

Our friends at Seymour Johnson AFB have stated that they have had 12 inches of rain as of last night and expect probably 6 inches more because it is stalling. Luckily the wind has not hit them, thus many still have electricity. However, because the Neuse River is right down the road, they are expecting that they will lose it soon due to flooding. I believe one of my friends said that they expect the water to go soon as a precautionary method for sanitary reasons.

A couple of things that they have shared.
1. The canoes are out and about in the streets. This was when they were going through the eye, and before the back end hit them for the 2nd round.
2. The new real fear from the predicted flooding. Something people forget about because it is rarely mentioned. SNAKES!
~ Water Moccasins are in that area. People forget with water surges/flooding they also take a ride on the wave inland. You can't see them in the murky water or the new pond in your yard.
~~ My friend posted that she had a 4 ft snake in her backyard.
~~~ Trust me, our DD was bitten by a moccasin. It took them 5 vials of anti-venom brought in from the CDC for her to recover.

I get you want to check damage, but be smart about it first. There are things lurking underneath that you might not think about.

Pit vipers are nothing to be trifled with! Glad your DD was okay. Was there a lot of tissue damage? People don't realize how much surrounding tissue is killed by snake venom.

Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent, Wyeth (hereinafter referred to as Antivenin) contains protective substances capable of neutralizing the toxic effects of venoms of crotalids (pit vipers) native to North, Central, and South America, including rattlesnakes (Crotalus, Sistrurus); copperhead and cottonmouth moccasins (Agkistrodon), including A. halys of Korea and Japan; the Fer-de-lance and other species of Bothrops; the tropical rattler (Crotalus durissus and similar species); the Cantil (A. bilineatus); and bushmaster (Lachesis mutus) of South and Central America.

Growing up on a coastal barrier island, watching the tidal creeks overflow - and looking out the morning after a storm, and seeing cottonmouths on the steps to the back porch...ugh. Mom wouldn’t let me go outside until Mr. Joyner, the neighbor handiest with an ax and the neighborhood snake decapitator of choice, had a chance to do his work. Still gives me goose bumps. The causeway to the island would probably still be flooded, and the hospital with the anti-venin was on the mainland.